Measuring instrument.



F. C. SCHMID.

MEASURING INSTRUMENT.

APPLIOATION FILED Nov. 1a, 1912.

Patented Mar. 10, 1914 A l l l Illllllllllllllllllllll mlmmlllwf @Hor ou FRANCIS C. SCHMID, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

MEASURINQ INSTRUMENT.

Losasee.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led November 13, 1912. \Seria1No. 781,138.

Patented Mar. 10, 1914.

- .To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANCIS C. SCHMID, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia,

have invented new and useful Improvements in Measuring Instruments, of which the fol- :lowig is a specification.

This invention relates to measuring instruments of that type which are generally known as range linders and which are used for accurately ascertaining distances upon fiat surfaces and more particularly upon water.

One object of the invention is to provide an instrument of simple construction which may be easily manipulated and which shall be provided with a plurality of scales which may be employed at various predetermined elevations to ascertain the distance of a given object.

A further object of the invention is to Acombine with an instrument of the` class described a protractor and a pointer cooperating therewith for the purpose of indicating the lateral' deflection from a given line o'f the object the distance of which is to be ascertained.

With these and other ends in view which will readily, appear as the nature of the invention is 'better understood, the same ,con-

sists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combinationof parts which will be hereinafter fully described and par,- ticularly pointed out in the claims.

-In the accompanying drawing has been illustrated a sim le and preferred form ofV the'invention, it eing, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but -that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the claims may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawing,-Figure 1 is a side elevation of a range finder constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on a. smaller scale taken Ion the line 3--3 in Fig. `1. Fig. 4is a diagram illustrating the use of t e invention.

Correspondin arts in the several figures are denoted by IilEe characters of reference.

The instrument, in the form shown in the drawing, includes a flat plate 1 on which -uprights 2, 2 are mounted, said `upri hts serving to support between them a teles pe the axis of the bore 7 of which is preferably parallel to the axis of the telescope. Said sleeve accommodates an adjustable pointer 8 which may be retained in adjusted position by means of a set screw 9 so as to coperate with any one of the scales 6.

The foot plate 1 is mounted by means of an Ordinar pivot member 10 ona base 11 upon whicliY a disk 12 having a .protractor 13 inscribed thereon is mounted, as shown, it being, of course, understood that the disk 12 may be integral with the base. Antifriction members, such as balls 14, may be interposed between the foot' plate and the base, if desired. Fixedly associated with the foot plate is a pointer 15 co erating with the protractor 13. A spirit evel 16 may be mounted on one of the uprights 2 or in any convenient position upon the instrument for the purpose of ascertaining when the instrument is level. It is evident that when at any predetermined height the telescope is focused upon a distant object, the axial line of the telescope will always lie at the same angle to the base when the ob'ect is at a predetermined distance from t e instrument. Bearing this in mind, the various scales 6 are previously calculated according to various' elevations at which the instrument may be employed, say 10, 15, 20 yards of elevation, and so on, with intervals of tive yards. It is obvious then that when the instrument is used on shipboard and is carried to a certain known elevation at which the object, the range of which is desired, may behest seen, the pointer 8 may be readily and quickly adjusted to read on'the .scale 6 correspondmg with the height at which the` instrument is located. The instrument having been laced at the desired elevation, it is adjusted squarely athwart the vessel, the pivotal axis of the trunnions on which the telescope swings being parallel to the length y L of the ship. When the instruments in a level positlon, as shown by the spirit level,

the distance of an given object lupon which the telescope is ocus'ed willf then be corl scale,

rectly indicated on the scale with which the point/er cooperates. lt is further obvious that when, in order to focus the telescope, the instrument must be turned about the axis of the vertical pivot 10, the lateral deflection will be indicated by the pointer 15 on the protractor 13. It is obvious that the telescope is to be provided with the customary cross wire for the purpose of giving the observer the true point of view.

While in the drawing the range scales 6 have been shown as extending to a line normally coinciding with the vertical axis of the instrument, this is obviously not necessary except to provide a zero or starting point, for the scales. 'It will, however, be observed that the range scales are shown as extending considerably beyond 90o, or beyond the ininity mark, whereby provision is made for measuring the amplitude of oscillation or rolling of the ship in order that the target or objective point may be kept in the focus of the telescope and proper allowance may be made in determining the range according to the degree of oscillation. 'In gaging the degree of oscillation the observer looking through the telescope keeps the telescope trained on the object while he or his assistant notes the angles indicated at the extreme limits of travel of the pointer over the the intermediate or mean point or angle indicating the range. The amplitude of oscillation of the vessel may also be ascer tained in a similar manner by noticing Aon the range scale the angles indicated by the pointer with relation to the horizon, as indicated by the spirit level 16. l/Vith this understanding of the operation of the instrument it is evident also that the instrument may be used for ascertaining altitudes when desired. By means of the protractor the speed of a vessel at a distance ahead and traveling at right angles to the line of travel of the ves sel on which the instrument is mounted may also be approximately calculate l, by trainy ing the telescope on the objective vessel and keeping it trained thereon until such objective vessel crosses the line of travel of the observing vessel, the angle and distance ont' Losaeee observing vessel being at rest, or its speed known, and the time of travelof the objective vessel between the primary and final angles on the protractor being noted, it is evident that the speed of travel of the objective vessel may be easily and conveniently calculated.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. ln an instrument of the class described, an upright mounted for rotary movement about a vertical axis, a telescope supported for swinging movement on said upright about a horizontal axis, a sleeve ixedly associated with the telescope, a sector associated with the upright, said sector having a plurality of concentric graduated scales exs ceeding 90o in extent, and a 'pointer adjustably mounted in the sleeve for coperation with any one of said scales.

2. ln an instrument of the class described, an upright, a sector carried thereby and having a plurality of concentric graduated scales exceeding 90 in extent, a telescope pivotally supported on the upright, and a pointer adjustably connected with the tele- -scope for cooperation with any one of the graduated scales. y

3. In an instrument of the class described, a base having a horizontal disk provided with a protractor, an upright pivotally mounted on the disk and having a pointer coperating with the protractor, a Sector secured on the upright, said sector having a plurality of concentric graduated scales, a pivotally supported telescope on said upright, a sleeve associated with the telescope, a pointer adjustable in the sleeve to coperate with any one of the scales on the sector, and a spirit level supported on the upright.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presenceV of two witnesses.

, FRANCIS C. SCHMID. lVitnesses:

.Wr/f. Buscar,

1E.V EoMoNsroN, Jr. 

